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Lucy swallowed. “I love you too,” she said quietly, her heart leaping as she saw the relief flood Dylan’s face.

“Lucy, I’ve wanted you since the first time I saw you — the day you opened the First Sip, and I came in with Michael to get a free cookie. One look at you and I was a goner. I tried everything to get your attention, but nothing worked.”

“In my defence, I was still getting over my long-term boyfriend destroying my business. And you were intent upon annoying me.”

“Well, yeah . . .”

“But Dylan, you could have anyone!”

“I really couldn’t,” Dylan said, his hand brushing her cheek. “And even if I could, I want you. I used to date a lot, it’s true, but not since I met you. And especially not since the night our Little Plum was conceived. That was . . . special to me. I thought I’d finally won you over . . . and then the next morning . . .”

“Yeah. I messed up there,” Lucy said.

“As long as we can make it right now,” Dylan said gently. “You get me. I’ve told you things I’ve never felt comfortable telling anyone. It was never just about our Little Plum,” Dylan said, looking so earnest it made Lucy feel like she was about to cry. “She’s the . . . the icing on top of the cake, but it’s you I want. I love you so much. And of course I’ll marry you, and as soon as possible.”

He kissed her tenderly on the lips as snow began to fall. A kiss that promised their future together.

“Could this be any more perfect?” Lucy laughed, catching a snowflake on her hand.

“I’m very impressed with your timing.” Dylan smiled. “Thank goodness I got you knocked up so I could finally get you to realise how awesome I am,” he quipped, and was rewarded with a bash on the arm.

“Could you help me up, please?” Lucy laughed. “I’ve got cramp in my calf and I’m stuck.”

Dylan helped her stand and pulled her into his arms. “This is going to be quite an adventure, isn’t it?”

“It certainly is,” Lucy replied.

Dylan put his hand on her stomach. “The three of us,” he said, bringing his forehead to hers.

“The three of us,” Lucy confirmed.

“Wow!” Dylan said, adding his other hand to her bump. “Is that what I think it is?”

Lucy laughed. “Yep. I think our little girl is kicking her approval.”

Epilogue

“Sibyl’s first Christmas Eve. Do you think she understands anything that’s going on?” Dylan asked. He carefully hung Sybil’s stocking up on the fireplace.

“No, but she seems to like the fairy lights,” said Lucy, as their baby made a grab for the tree, which had been the biggest Dylan had been able to find that would actually fit in the room. As it was, they’d had to lop a bit off the top to stop it touching the ceiling.

“She’ll be crawling soon, and then we’ll be in trouble,” Dylan said, tickling his daughter under her chin.

Sibyl, named, following much debate, after their favourite Downton Abbey character, giggled and gazed back at her father adoringly.

“We certainly will be,” laughed Lucy, delighting in how Dylan fussed over their little girl.

Nothing was too much trouble for him, and now, having been parents for a whole seven months, they were starting to settle into a rhythm and almost felt like they knew what they were doing. It helped that Michael and Carrie were never too busy, it seemed, to answer any of their questions or allay their worries, and Poppy was always happy to help out with Sibyl, as well as her new brother, Teddy. She couldn’t seem to comprehend why the adults found looking after babies so difficult. She never had any trouble when she watched them for five minutes while they slept after they’d been fed and burped by other people.

Jo had been taken on full-time at the coffee shop, and had moved into Lucy’s flat, the rent from which covered the increase in her wage. The lunchtime deliveries continued to grow in popularity, the garden seating that was now available had proved very popular during the summer months, and business was strong. It felt lovely not to be worrying about money for the first time in years, not because Dylan had rescued her, but because they were a team and they were building up the business together. He had her back, the same as she had his.

They shared childcare between them now that Lucy was back working in the coffee shop, albeit not doing anything like the hours she was doing before, and her daughter was made a huge fuss of by staff and customers whenever she made an appearance.

“Are your parents still on track to get here soon?” Dylan asked, putting his arm around Lucy and giving her a little squeeze.

“Yeah. Mum messaged a while ago. They’re so excited.”

Lucy put Sibyl down on her playmat and gave Dylan a kiss.